The best Witcher 3 mods

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is already a fine game in the wake of a pile of patches and expansions, and thus the thought of modding it sometimes feels like garnishing a kingly steak with corner store-grade sauce. Still, though, it's possible to find room for improvement in a few of its features, or at the very least conveniences that override its more obtuse designs.

Below you'll find our list of the best mods for The Witcher 3, now updated to reflect the many new mods that have dropped since our last lineup. Unfortunately, we've had to remove some of our initial favorites because of non-compatibility.

There are also a lot of mods that worked with the 1.30 patch that don't play nice with the Game of the Year 1.31 patch. If you're having any issues, be sure to try out this modas it might fix them.

Fast Travel from Anywhere

Geralt's world already has dozens of signposts for fast travel, but sometimes you'll still find yourself spending ages coaxing Roach the the nearest one. If you're not down for that sometimes humdrum bit of roleplay, this mod lets you teleport to any fast travel point from anywhere, much in the style of Skyrim. Just use it with caution and don't get too hasty: overriding the existing system reportedly causes problems with a tiny number of quests.

Critical Slow Motion Combat

If you've ever felt that The Witcher 3's combat lacks a certain cinematic flair, be sure to pick up this gem. It greatly slows down the action when Geralt lands a critical hit, allowing you to gape in awe at how just how perfectly that bandit's head flew from his shoulders. In a long lists of conveniences, it's one of the few that improves the actual feel of Geralt's brawls. If you're feeling particularly vicious, modder KNGR also made a version that combines this with his similarly popular More Blood mod.

Better Torches

Torches are the unsung heroes of The Witcher 3, allowing Geralt to see in the many dark places of his world without being forced to see gray for ages as he would with a Cat potion.This mod lets you get the most use of them. Now Geralt can cast signs, ride his horse, climb over ledges, and even block in battle without having to snuff out his trusty flame.

Auto Apply Oils

One of the finest bits of roleplaying in The Witcher 3 is arguably its system of weapon oils, as there's some genuine satisfaction in knowing the right mixture for the job. But after hours and hours of digging in Geralt's bags and applying them, even the most dedicated roleplayer among us would be hard-pressed to deny it gets tedious. That's where Auto Apply Oils comes in. Once you're in range of an enemy type specific to a certain oil, it'll automatically apply the oil and leave you to the business of hacking at it with a slab of silver.

Realistic Weather

If you're looking for a better weather experience in Novigrad and environs, then be sure to pick up this relatively recent mod. It places a heavy emphasis on fog, but it also brings other treats such as more snow in Skellige and better light rain animations. If you think it overdoes it, the description page has a list of settings you can freely change with console commands.

Script Merger

The Witcher 3 has been out for close to two years now, and in that time some modders have abandoned their works and let other mods and patches conflict with their creations. Script Merger ensures that there's still a chance these mods will work in the wake of such sweeping changes. It works by creating merged versions of similar text files, and while it won't fix everything, it usually expands the lifespan of mods that would have been unusable otherwise months ago. As a bonus, it's far less intimidating than it looks.

Auto Loot

Sick of rummaging through corpses after every battle? This mod automatically picks up all the area loot for Geralt, regardless of whether he's just been battling rotfiends or digging through drawers in Oxenfurt. That's welcome enough in itself, but what makes Auto Loot so great is that it also ensures that Geralt doesn't accidentally steal valuables in his auto-looting frenzy, and it lets you customize what he picks up and what he leaves behind.

Absolute Camera

Unhappy with the camera placement while you're running, fighting, riding, or swimming? Absolute Camera doesn't just change the camera distance and angle but gives you over a dozen completely customizable options for camera placement during Geralt's many activities. In the video above you can get a look at just how flexible the new camera tools are.

PhotoMode

Want to take some awesome screenshots of Geralt in action? This mod provides a toggle button that lets you freeze the game at will, then fly your camera around in 3D space to line up the perfect picture. There's also a toggle for making yourself invisible (good for landscape shots), and an option to spawn fog and mist to make your shots more atmospheric. Requires the Debug Console Enabler.

Friendly HUD

The Witcher 3's UI can feel a bit cluttered, but turning parts of it off can make the game overly difficult. This mod has several features, available in separate downloads if you only want one or two, that improve the on-screen issues. From holding a key down to enter meditation without using the menu, to hiding quest markers unless you're using your Witcher sense, plus HUD elements that can individually be toggled on and off without having to open your menu, and lots more.

Random Encounters

If you're finding the overworld a bit too cozy and cuddly, here's a mod that should liven things up. It increases the chances of encountering monster mobs, winged beasts, and human enemies. The mod is customizable so you can juke the settings until you find the perfect balance of random monster encounters.

The Enhancement System

Need a few more weapons and armor options? This mod makes NPC weapons, like Imlerith's giant mace and several others, available to Geralt either through merchants or by crafting. New schematics in shops will allow for even more weapon options, and upgrades are available for relics as well.

HD Reworked Project

If you looking for better, crisper, more detailed models and textures, feast your cat-like peepers on this mod. Rocks, trees, crates, roofs, and floors have all been overhauled with increased resolutions and brightness, with presumably more to come.

Over 9,000 Weight

Geralt can already carry quite a bit considering he's just a guy with sweet leather getups and two cumbersome swords, but if you're the sort of hoarder who can't bear the thought of tossing away collection of Witch Hunter's Swords, then this is the mod for you. The resulting weight limit? You guessed it, Vegeta. It's over 9,000. Now you'll (almost) never have to worry about whether you should hang on to that trophy that's taking up so much room but has an extremely situational bonus. Just do it.

Increased Creature Loot

The game may be called Wild Hunt, but hunting creatures and monsters isn't a great way to make a living. If you're tired of bagging a bunch of deer and walking away with little to show for it, the Increased Creature Loot mod will up your chances of animals dropping meat, hide, and other ingredients.

TradeMan

It's annoying to cart a load of loot into town and find a vendor so poor he can't afford to buy it all. This mod gives vendors some deeper pockets, and gently encourages them to pay you more for your goods. If you're having a problem getting it to work with 1.31, be sure to use this unofficial patch that resolves the issue.